佛言佛語（二）

To test how deep the water is, simply throw in a stone.
People who brag about themselves are like a stone hitting shallow water;
they make a big splash.
Modest people are always silent, just like a stone thrown into deep water.

As Buddhists, we have to constantly maintain our “self-nature”, or else we will be knocked down easily, like a wall with no support.

Only those with a solid foundation for Buddhahood will, with the Master’s help, make rapid progress toward that end.
It is important to keep in mind why we began our journey, and to extend our gratitude towards Bodhisattvas on a daily basis.

The power of a vow emerges when we repent.

We have to be cautious in all of our actions and be diligent in our practice.
Being a monk or nun requires observation of precepts, whereas practising Buddhism requires diligence, which eventually leads to the light.

Our minds reveal themselves only through our eyes.

We should never forget our original aspiration or our roots.
If we lose our ability to become emotional or feel touched, we also lose our ability to be grateful.

Learn to adjust your mentality and avoid worrying your parents by sharing your stress with them.
Practise filial piety by easing their minds and taking responsibility for your own karma and your lives.

Buddhist monks and nuns have no wealth of their own.
They cultivate gratitude towards sentient beings by accepting their offerings.

Ups and downs are inevitable in life.
The more favourable the situation, the humbler we need to be.
Keep bitterness to ourselves and leave happiness to others.

We should do good deeds that touch people’s hearts throughout our lives.
Only by setting a good example for others will we become strong.

True and profound love can often be found in the simplest of moments.
Interpersonal relationships are all about heart to heart interactions.
However, once separated, our hearts will become estranged.

A key to educating your children is to respect them as exemplary people, rather than see them as inferior individuals.

All happy, optimistic and uplifting feelings and emotions are positive energy.

Those performing evil deeds are usually unaware of their misconduct.
Only when they begin to do good deeds can they appreciate the severity of their past wrongdoings.

Learn to understand others.
Most people do not want to understand others, instead wanting others to understand them.
This is egotism.
We should try to think less of ourselves and more of others.
Try to understand others better.

When it comes to educating children, it is important to enlighten them with affection and motivate them with reason.
Punish them when they make mistakes while also helping them restore a balanced state of mind.

Convince others with virtues, not reason.
Do not ask for troubles as, more often than not, we make our own trouble.

A person with gratitude will always be respected and loved.

Take control of your Seventh Consciousness (Manas-vijnana).
If you fail to do so, all of your unwholesome thoughts will enter your Eighth Consciousness (Alaya-vijnana).

It is predetermined affinity that brings people together.
Instead of clinging to these affinities, we should cherish them.
Embrace all affinities—good and bad—and let nature take its course.

Black holes exist in the universe;
they also come to exist in our hearts if we cling to our own thoughts and judgements.

Habit is formed bit by bit.
If we fail to pay attention to the formation of our habits, we may act unwisely in critical moments.

The problem is that people change.
Impermanence is the cause of suffering.

Respect is earned by being modest and cautious, not by puffing yourself up.

‘The Black or White Enforcement Officer of the Underworld’ does not refer to a particular individual.
It is an official position in the underworld.
The Black Enforcement Officer of the Underworld monitors and records a person’s wrongdoings that are performed without the knowledge of others in the human realm.
The White Enforcement Officer of the Underworld monitors and records a person’s wrongdoings that are known to others in the human realm.
Once the Enforcement Officers consolidate their records, the good and bad deeds done by an individual will be verified.
If you have done too many evil acts, you will be taken away by them.

To help us get rid of our false sense of pride, ego and arrogance, the Master will keep pointing out our shortcomings until we eventually let go of our inflated egos, pretentious self-esteem and the ‘self’ that we have been clinging to.
Many people have lost their physical lives, along with their spiritual lives, for the sake of their pride.

Admitting your ignorance is not itself an act of ignorance.
Real ignorance emerges when one fails to realise its presence.

The Tripitaka Dharma Master has three main characteristics.
He can give convincing speeches, write articles of substance, and is capable of researching.

If you do not take Dharma Protectors seriously and so not regard the human realm as an illusion, karmic retribution will be right on your heels.

We must see through the true nature of everything and let go.
It is ignorance that motivates us to unearth wisdom.

Seek the ultimate and perfect Prajna wisdom of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the ordinary wisdom of humanity.

Practising Buddhism is an ongoing process of self-correction.
Look up to Bodhisattvas as your role model.

Our prayers will be answered only if we have clarity of mind and are spiritually awakened.

Guan Yin Bodhisattva will be touched by our sincerity and diligence.
Guan Yin Bodhisattva always smiles at us like a mother, but deep in Her heart, She is worried about the ignorance of sentient beings.

Guan Yin Bodhisattva tells us that compassion is the key to spiritually awakening sentient beings.
We will live a better life and be immersed in the Buddha light of the Bodhisattva when we learn to forgive others and purify our minds.
It is impossible to keep the Bodhisattva’s pure water clean if it is poured into a contaminated cup.
Only by having a pure mind can we be rid of all vexations.

What is true is forever true and what is false is forever false.
We cultivate sincerely for the benefit of ourselves, not for others.
Even the Bodhisattva is unable to save a person with a defiled heart.

The Master regards himself as a father who can be strict but gentle.
His love to all of us stems from the bottom of his heart.
It is genuine and deep.

You will be held responsible if others create karma of speech because of you.
When you make others emotionally attached to you, it is also considered to be your fault.

Your sense of insecurity is attributed to your lack of faith in Bodhisattvas.

Though we are in the human realm, we do not have to settle for being ordinary.
We must aspire to be Bodhisattvas;
act consistently no matter if we are in public or in private.

Do not get angry over other people’s criticisms.
Think of the reason behind them instead.
Either the other party has a personal motive or you are at fault.

The earlier you repent of your wrongdoing, the quicker it is removed from your Eighth Consciousness.

Looking for excuses to cover up your mistakes is an indication that you do not want to change.
The process of looking for excuses is detrimental to your true nature.
It harms you and leaves your conscience with no place to stay.

We create affinities ourselves.
When you look for Buddha, your Buddha nature develops.

Affirm merits and virtues where they are due, while also censuring flaws and mistakes.

Buddhism is about observing precepts and cultivating our potential for awakening.
This is the manifestation of our Buddha nature from within.

A shortcoming is like putrid food;
it must be thrown away.
It requires perseverance and determination to be successful in practising Buddhism.

Keeping other people’s flaws in mind is like keeping a bowl of foul-smelling food they have given you;
it contaminates your heart, leaving no room for positive thoughts.

Respect comes from the bottom of our hearts.
We should be approachable.

Precepts are the ‘laws’ of Buddhism and Buddhist monks are like lawyers.
Being propagators of the Buddha’s teachings, you know deep down that you should set a good example.
It’s the heart that matters.
Let people see the existence of Bodhisattvas through you.
Someone who is well-versed in laws will not violate them.
The Sangha is the embodiment of the spirit of the Buddha.
You have to ward off any possibility of making mistakes.

Never look down upon anyone;
each individual has their own strengths.
Put your heart into everything that you do.
Adjust your mindset and direction to make sure you are on the right track.

The quality of Little Houses (a combination of Buddhist Scriptures) is a manifestation of the reciter’s level of spiritual development.
When the mind is distracted, the quality of Little Houses is compromised.

Good character is of utmost importance.
Admit your shortcomings and refrain from lying.
Character is more important than skill.

Do not test your control over the five sensual desires - Wealth, Sex, Fame, Food and Sleep.

Only true cultivation will advance your spiritual development, failing which, your spiritual life would be at stake.

Treat spiritually awakening sentient beings as your mission and helping others as your responsibility.
Fill your hearts with loving-kindness and compassion.

We should be like a pillar while our Buddhist friends are like the concrete which relies on the pillar to stay firm and strong.
The Master wants us to possess the spiritual willpower of steel.

The Master’s mission in this human realm is to act as a Dharma Protector at times and to fight evil.
We cannot attain Buddhahood without overcoming evil.
This is why the Master never hesitates to point out our shortcomings and to purify the contamination in our minds and bodies, not a single shred of which should be left.

The spiritual path to enlightenment is like climbing a pagoda;
the higher it gets, the steeper it becomes.
This is why fewer and fewer practitioners are able to transcend beyond the human realm.
Once we reach the top of the pagoda, however, we will have succeeded.

Curing patients is a doctor’s duty, just like spiritually awakening sentient beings is a Bodhisattva’s mission.

Hardships make us diligent.
How can one expect to make progress along the path of spiritual practice without diligence?

Training our minds is a self-motivated endeavour, we cannot count on others to do this for us.
To succeed, we have to be strong and determined.

It takes wholeheartedness and dedication to succeed in practising Buddhism.

Learn to be like the Master, who is clean at all times.

If you do not perform meritorious deeds while others are doing so, the discrimination will be a cause of karmic obstacles.

Our minds need to achieve mutual understanding.
We must have sentient beings in our hearts, which is what the Master always does.

When someone tells a lie, deep down they know this is wrong.
They have no compassion.

Offering one stick of incense symbolises wholeheartedness, faith and devotion to one Buddhist practice, while three sticks symbolise the respect to the Triple Gems - the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.

On merit and virtue:
Merit is a result of effort, whereas virtue exists in our true nature.
Many people perform acts of merit superficially, but they will not be able to gain merit and virtue unless their actions are virtuous.
It is not difficult to do good deeds.
What is difficult is to do good all your life and with all your heart.

The Master never gives up on anyone easily.
He has always loved us with his heart and soul.
The Master has been nurturing and protecting our spiritual lives.

Buddhist practice is not about rhetoric but sincerity.

Good fortune and blessings come from respecting others;
holding the Master and the Bodhisattvas in high esteem;
performing the Five Constant Virtues (Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom and Fidelity);
and guarding against arrogance.
One who upholds these values will see gradual improvement in themselves.

Cherish your life.
Those who enjoy giving without reluctance and applying the Four Immeasurables — Loving-kindness, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy and Equanimity — are those who make the most of their lives.

One who fails to perform serious recitation of Buddhist scriptures will be left alone.
We should free ourselves from greed, hatred and delusion.

Bodhisattvas will leave those who are possessed by spirits which are intent on ruining their spiritual lives.
Once they have lost their spiritual lives, they are subject to punishment by Dharma Protectors.

If you are to transfer merits and virtues to someone else, choose someone who is a virtuous individual.
Helping an evil person not only creates karmic obstacles, but also amounts to aiding and abetting their wrongdoings.

A sponge can only absorb more water when it is squeezed dry.
Likewise, we as Buddhist practitioners should be open-minded in order to assimilate more Buddhism-related knowledge.

Our success lies in faith and commitment.
According to Buddhism, we should devote ourselves to one Buddhist practice.
It is of vital importance to have faith in an enlightened Master, without the slightest doubt.

Change is the only way of perfecting yourself.
Honesty and trustworthiness is the mother of morality.
It is its foundation.
Never follow a teacher who lacks virtue.
It is the Dharma, not some individual, that we should rely on.

To change oneself is no easy task.
As Buddhists, we must avoid harbouring distracting thoughts, as they will grow and multiply.
Any karmic obstacles will multiply.
Therefore, avoid creating even the slightest bit of negative karma.

All disciples should vow to respect their teachers and the Buddhist teachings they impart.
Act in accordance with the karmic conditions of sentient beings.
Do not be annoying and insist on going your own way:
follow the opinion of the majority first.

Be a noble-minded person, a person who is above vulgar interests.

Do not become obsessed with material possessions that are unattainable.

Staying busy keeps you away from unwholesome thoughts.
A busy schedule leaves no room for you to become narrow-minded.
Spend more time on a good cause and less on personal matters.

Be a well-rounded and virtuous person who knows when to lie low and when to walk tall.

Make complex things simple;
take simple things seriously.

The keys to success are:
1. Unwavering determination;
2. Strong conviction;
and
3. Invincible spirit.

To perfect yourself, be ready to repent anytime and anywhere.

Life is a process of perfecting ourselves.
We should make the most of our lives, doing service for the benefit of other sentient beings.

You should be honest and clean, and desire nothing.

In this world, there are two approaches to an issue: action and inaction.
Out of nothing comes something.
After taking no action towards anyone or anything, a thought of taking action will emerge.

One must be able to endure hardship and be tolerant, like a sponge that can absorb even dirty and polluted water.

If, after cultivating your mind, you still do not have a kind and dignified appearance, then your heart is definitely not like that of a Bodhisattva.

From a psychological point of view, attachment is an unwholesome type of consciousness deep in the heart and unconscious mind.
From a Buddhist point of view, attachment is the behaviour and values wrongly expressed by our thinking from deep within our hearts, preventing us from changing our existing thinking.
No matter where the criticism comes from, we as Buddhists shall accept it as long as it hits the nail on the head.
There is always something that we can learn from someone.
This is rationality.

The words that you say are incomprehensible if you do not understand the words of others first.
Do not make comments if you do not understand what others say.

Be thoughtful of others all your life and you will be very happy.

Karma is the law of cause and effect.
Do not be afraid to make mistakes;
learn from them and change yourself.

We reap what we sow.
We sow the seed of karma with every glance.

To err is human, but we must refrain from doing wrong too often.
We may inadvertently do wrong to other people, but we must not do it too often.
What matters most is correcting our mistakes.

In Buddhist terms, we need to have the potential for awakening within our hearts.
If you attain awakening through the help of others, it is not a true awakening.
True awakening has to be attained through our own effort.

Learning Buddhism is a way to eradicate your own negative energy and your attachment to self.
If your ‘self’ looms large in your heart, there will be no place for others in your heart.

Do not let a shirt be stained as there is no way to remove the stain.
Likewise, always caution yourself against taking the wrong path.

Overcoming worldly afflictions is wisdom.
If you can come to terms with reality today, you are successful.

As our lives repeatedly alternate between gain and loss, we need to awaken ourselves through our inherent nature.

To correct our shortcomings is to respect ourselves.

In this Age of Dharma Decline, it is very important to restore our balanced state of mind when the affinities accumulated over our past lives reappear.
We need to exercise restraint over ourselves and walk our own path.
Ignore what others may say about you;
do not let their words or how they look at you affect you.

Emptiness of the mind encompasses pure emptiness, tranquil emptiness and the empty space.
When the mind encompasses all of space, we can hold anything in our hearts.

Any issue with one’s moral character, however minor, is a serious one;
Any issue with other matters, however serious, is a minor one.

Zen is a kind of transcendental knowledge.
By creating a true understanding of the fundamental nature of the world by way of an empty and clear state of mind, we are able to achieve absolute transcendence and true insight.

Life is like a trap.
We have to constantly adjust our perception and mindset to avoid being caught.

It is important that we keep a tight rein on our minds and thoughts.

Refrain from hypocrisy — that is our pride.
People of different levels of spiritual development will have a different understanding of the Master.

We attain a perfect state if we can put our worries behind us when we are happy.

Always maintain a pure heart and refrain from telling lies, then you will have a clear conscience even if you have done something wrong.

A truly enlightened Buddhist has attained an expanding state of spiritual development, a balanced state of mind and infinite wisdom.
People who lack tolerance and immeasurable minds will be emotionally unstable.

If you pause and think for five seconds before you take an action, utter any word, or conceive any thought, you will have no regrets.

Time is life.
If we immerse ourselves in the Buddha’s light for every minute of our lives, then our lives will be prolonged.
Time is like a sponge that can be squeezed.
We must not harm ourselves, as unnecessary sacrifice is a mere waste of life.

Emulate the noble qualities of esteemed, knowledgeable and greatly virtuous Buddhist monastics or lay practitioners.
Endeavour to elevate your level of spiritual development.
When the Master is not around, draw up a timetable for yourself, maintain the right frame of mind and refrain from clinging to karmic conditions.
If we fail to see what truly matters and do not understand the purpose of our coming to this world, time that is lost is lost forever.
How can we turn back the clock?

There is no place for even the minutest amount of dirt in our hearts.
Alexandre Dumas once said that it is difficult to understand others, but the most difficult thing is to understand yourself.
Never allow yourself to fall into any trap.
Never allow the least karmic obstacle to take form, nor harbour any unwholesome thoughts in your mind.

Those who aspire to be a Bodhisattva must bear the following key points in mind:
1. Bodhisattvas are oblivious to the flaws and faults of others.
2. Remain steadfast in cultivating without expecting anything in return.
3. Have no mind.
That is, have no anger, no afflictions and no obstructions.
It is not that Bodhisattvas have no minds, but that they take the minds of other sentient beings as their own.
The minds of sentient beings are the minds of Bodhisattvas.

This is the advice of Guo Ziyi (one of the most powerful generals in China’s Tang Dynasty):
Treat your subordinates well.
Respect virtuous and knowledgeable people even if they hold lower positions.
As long as you are morally upright, the Bodhisattva will take care of you no matter what happens.

When there is a place in your heart for the Bodhisattva, you are able to ward off calamities and surmount difficulties.

When you keep a clean mind and look at a statue of Guan Yin Bodhisattva mindfully, there will be no distracting thoughts in your mind.
If your mind is full of distracting thoughts, there is no way for Guan Yin Bodhisattva to enter your heart.
The moment you look at the statue of the Bodhisattva, all the distracting thoughts will be gone.
Examine your mind to see if it is distracted and unclean.
If you are unable to rein in your wandering thoughts, there is no way you can cultivate your mind well.
When you bow in prayer, do not think of anyone.
Otherwise, distracting thoughts will emerge.
Learn to sit down and calm your mind.
Then your mind should be left with only ten per cent selfish thoughts while eighty per cent of the room in your mind is occupied by the Bodhisattva.
When you bow, you should only have Guan Yin Bodhisattva in your mind, becoming oblivious to the people bowing in front of you or behind you.
When you kneel down, there is no one else except you in the universe.
This is what we call quietness of the mind.

Fend off an inner demon using the internal monologue derived from your inherent compassion.
When bacteria make their way into your body, ward them off with positive energy.

The prerequisites for attaining Buddhahood are diligence, awakening and forbearance.
Adopt a positive attitude no matter what you do.
The frame of mind is different because the level of spiritual development differs.

Be grateful to the Bodhisattva.
When one’s heart is filled with gratitude, there is no room for hatred.
When we live our lives with feelings of gratitude, we will be blessed with happiness and joy.

Combat the thought of selfishness the very moment it crosses your mind.
Be wholehearted in whatever you do.
Heaven is watching, and the Bodhisattva knows what we are doing.
Proactively own up to your mistakes and you will earn the respect of others.

Karma is created the moment we comment on someone.
We must understand the workings of karma and be untiring in our efforts towards Buddhahood every day.
While practising Buddhism, one is likely to slacken when one is not alert.
It is important that we have control over our state of mind in order to examine whether we behave like a Bodhisattva, to see whether we have many worries, and whether we are diligent.
When we attain the fruition of a Bodhisattva, we can control ourselves and exist in such a way that all our behaviours possess noble qualities.
Regard other people’s problems as our own.
Always have the interests of others at heart and refrain from harbouring selfish thoughts.
Selfishness leads to distracting thoughts, which, if left unchecked, will make us more disturbed and miserable.

The more able we are, the humbler we should be.
Be compassionate, then you will be connected to the energy field of Guan Yin Bodhisattva.
People should be able to have control over themselves.
Humans require an indomitable willpower to win the war against their follies.
Be alert at all times, as though you are being kept on your toes;
If you are wary that a single thought is likely to land you in the cycle of rebirth, then you will be on guard against conceiving any thought.